Aircraft Spotting at Surrey's Airfields and Airports
Spotting locations, viewing areas and advice on access for airports and airfields in Surrey. Use the hotlinks above or scroll down for spotting information on spotting locations, airfield hangar access, aviation museums, preserved aircraft. Plus all the information has been plotted as Points of Interest and can be downloaded to your SatNavs and Google Earth to make planning your spotting trips abroad so much easier and helping you log many more
Spotting Info
From North - M25 come off at J11, left onto A317, second exit at roundabout to stay on A317, go over the Basingstoke Canal and turn right onto B374. Museum is on right but should be signed by now. A museum and therefore an entrance fee but if you've never been before it will be worth it, there are some great aircraft on display here. The Museum also has a helipad that gets used occasionally.
Brooklands Museum
Last reported July 2008. Want to update or confirm the information is still correct? Send in a report
CATERHAM-WILLEY PARK FARM SCRAPYARD
Spotting Info
Head west out of Caterham on B2031 to Chaldon. At the Green Lane/Roffes Lane crossroads turn left on to Roffes Lane. Go round right hand bend, past Willey Lane on left and Badgers Wood on
right. On the next long left bend there are two right turns next to each other, take the second right - Willey Farm Lane. At the end of the first field on the left is the scrapyard. You can walk along the bridleway and along the edge of the boundary field and look through the bushes and hedges to see the aircraft. There are also small knot holes in the fences. Friendly, but if you turn up unannounced there may not be anyone available to escort you round - necessary to ID all the fuselages. I don't have an email address yet but their phone number is 01883 340062 - this is already listed on several websites but if they wish their details to be removed please let me know.
Last reported December 2008. Want to update or confirm the information is still correct? Send in a report
CHARLWOOD-GATWICK AVIATION MUSEUM
Spotting Info Gatwick Aviation Museum for directions and a list of aircraft on display. No entrance fee but the museum does ask for a donation of £3.50 for adults and £2 for children. A small price to pay to look after these gems and well worth it. They also advise calling/emailing/faxing before you visit to ensure someone is available to show you all aspects of the museum and the exhibits. The aircraft are also listed at Demobbed Museum Exhibits and Demobbed Yard Exhibits
Last reported . Want to update or confirm the information is still correct? Send in a report
CHARLWOOD SCRAPYARD
Spotting Info
Take the Russ Hill road out of Charlwood and then an angled right turn onto Glovers Road before the end of the houses and Aerospace Logistics is on the left. If you pass the windmill you've gone too far. Apparently all can be seen from Glovers Road but as well as the 2 almost complete aircraft there are fuselages and cockpits and other bits and pieces so contacting in advance may get you a tour, full log with information and serials - could someone please advise if Aerospace Logistics are happy with visitors and tours?
Last reported August 2008. Want to update or confirm the information is still correct? Send in a report
CHESSINGTON-RUSHETT FARM AIRFIELD
Spotting Info
Owner of this strip does not welcome spotters. Some aircraft are visible from the road. Heading east along M25: Exit J9 head north on A243, strip is on right after 1-2 miles. Go up and over a hill, and on the descent there is a small entrance on the right. The best marker for the entrance is the lamppost or telegraph pole, with a green board notice on it. If you see a BP garage on the right, you've gone too far. Drive down the narrow track until you reach the farmhouse, and ask there. Heading west along M25: Exit J9, take 3rd exit at roundabout (dual carriageway) to take you under M25. At next roundabout turn right onto A243 (north), directions as above.
Last reported . Want to update or confirm the information is still correct? Send in a report
DUNSFOLD AIRFIELD (EGTD) - A/G 119.1
Spotting Info
Just east of village. No access from main gate but XL621 Hunter (G-BNCX) is the gate guardian. The aircraft are in hangars, however if they are flying the best location is the far side of the field on a back road from the A281 to Dunsfold. There are various stops along the road and walk up to the airfield boundary. Views can also be had from the A281, you can clearly see the aircraft through the hedges. Park in a lay-by on the A281 north of the airfield and take the 5 minute walk down to the perimeter for views of the BA B747 over the far side next to the old control tower, the South African DC3
north side and the MediVac helicopter on the south side if it's outside its hangar. Continue south down A281 and turn right at Alfold Crossways onto Dunsfold Road. Follow this to crash gates by a pub for
different views. There is a view on the north side of the airport - from the lay-by head north on A281 and take the first left onto Barrihurst Lane. Bear left at the triangle junction onto Stovolds Hill (B2130), the road bends sharply right and left, then take the second left - High Loxley Road. Follow this to the end for the view - please note if you cross the gate you will be trespassing on the farmer's private land.
Last reported April 2008. Want to update or confirm the information is still correct? Send in a report
Spotting Info
The racecourse is southeast of Epsom off the B290 and well signposted. The helicopters park in the middle of the course - cross the course and walk up to the fenced area where they are all parked and by walking down the fence line you can easily read everything off.
Last reported June 2006. Want to update or confirm the information is still correct? Send in a report
FAIROAKS AIRFIELD (EGTF/FRK) - TWR 123.425
Spotting Info
Situated on the A319 between Chobham and Ottershaw and well signposted. Although you can't get access to hangars or airside it's my local and I love it! There are two entrances - Main and West. Take the main entrance first by following the signs. At the T-junction you can no longer turn left to see what's parked outside the Alan Mann hangars, as there is a 'No Spotters' sign and active security around. So turn right. During the summer the doors to the back of the hangars on your left are open so you may get lucky and see something. Just before you park up there is a gap between the last hangar and the clubhouse, which will net you one or two that you might not otherwise get. Park in car park, GA hangar is the large black hangar on your right. Walk round to left in front of clubhouse to see what's parked outside Alan Mann and on the apron. Now back to your car and drive behind the GA hangar, taking great care with the speed humps. On your left the wreck compound. Turn left at end of track (turning right takes you back towards A319). Drive down the West entrance road and follow round to the left. You get a different view of the based aircraft and a better view of the AM hangars and any aircraft parked outside all hangars. Handy if there are a couple you can't get from the main area. You can also walk alongside the buildings on the left up to big 'No Spotters' sign to see in the GA hangar. Turn right out of either entrance and you will see a lay-by on the right. Pull in for views of any helicopters that sometimes park here. If there are still some you can't get then take the road next to the lay-by, it runs parallel to the airfield. Park sensibly as it is a thin dirt track leading to residential housing. There were 2 Jetranger wrecks (cabin only I think) but one has possibly departed by road. However there is definitely one still south of the runway, next to an unmarked PA28 near the blister hangar - neither identity is known, could you please let me know them. Michael Baldock took this photo stating "This unidentified hulk, the remains of a Bell 206 JetRanger, is located in a field adjacent to Fairoaks Airport where it is used to train dogs for the Prison service".
Fairoaks Residents & Movements, Fairoaks Email Group
Last reported May 2010. Want to update or confirm the information is still correct? Send in a report
REDHILL AIRFIELD (EGKR/KRH) - TWR 120.275
Spotting Info
From A23, which runs parallel to M23, the airfield is well signposted. You can't get in to the main area due to a barrier. However, there is parking before the barrier and a pathway runs down the side of Acebell. Go to the London Helicopter Centre (LHC) reception and ask for access to their hangar. WAIT to be granted permission, you must sign in the visitors book and be handed a visitor pass. DO NOT just wander into the hangar on your own - you WILL be removed and access will be stopped. You will need a hi-viz jacket and some ID (which may be photocopied). You will also be asked to make a donation to the Air Ambulance. Once in, you will be able to go through their hangar and out onto the main apron. Keeping to the buildings, you will be able to go all the way along the front of the hangars asking at each one for permission to enter. This may, or may not, be granted. There is a hangar with lots of the older types of aircraft in which you will not be allowed into and there is a hangar with helicopters in that goes quite a long way back which will sometimes let you in. The one with the helis lined up facing the front will let you in though. Just ask at each one, some will grant access, others not, and a couple have notices outside barring entry, but you can log from the entrance. A cafe beyond the Bristow hangar has views over most of the airfield. Follow the signs from the main gate. If you turn left out of main entrance, at the top of the incline there is a lay-by on the left for you to get a few. For microlight area and Redhill Flying Club hangars you need to head south out of South Nutfield village on Crab Hill Lane and the gate is on the right in line with the 26L runway line - they are usually friendly. You get a view of the main area from here as well as views in to the hangar to pick up a few more.
Last reported September 2010. Want to update or confirm the information is still correct? Send in a report
